Syria & the Surrounding Countries

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Colleen Simpson
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Syria & the Surrounding Countries Situation Report #30 Reporting period 01/11/2017 to 31/01/2018 The operates under the Whole of Syria (WoS) approach which comprises activities in Turkey, Lebanon and

Highlights The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster () delivered an Inter-Agency Let s Comm Digital training in November in Dubai to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) humanitarians

1 Syria & the Surrounding Countries Situation Report #30 Reporting period 01/11/2017 to 31/01/2018 The operates under the Whole of Syria (WoS) approach which comprises activities in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan for an effective humanitarian response inside Syria. The next report will be issued on or around 30/04/18. Highlights The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster () delivered an Inter-Agency Let s Comm Digital training in November in Dubai to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) humanitarians supporting operations in Syria and surrounding countries. Solar panels were deployed in the Communications Centre (COMCEN) in Qamishly to ensure security telecommunications services are provided uninterruptedly to humanitarians. During a workshop organised by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Damascus on 19 December, the presented its plans and activities in Syria and surrounding countries to local Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Let s Comm Digital s participants expanding their skills on the deployment and maintenance of digital radio technology infrastructure and services. Photo credits: / Christopher Alagna Situation Overview The overall humanitarian and protection situation for civilians displaced from Ar-Raqqa city, as part of the crisis in Northeast Syria, remains of high concern, particularly the impact of explosive hazards contamination on safe returns and safe access for humanitarian actors. In addition to the threat posed by explosive hazards, up to 80 per cent of all buildings in Ar-Raqqa city are severely damaged, and at risk of collapse. In Deir-ez-Zor city, military operations and associated heavy aerial attacks have reportedly resulted in explosive hazards contamination. While the scope and scale remains unknown, this contamination is a major protection concern for IDPs who may return to their homes, while also impeding safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian needs remain high throughout the governorate. Access to the main water network Page 1 of 6 The is a global network of organizations that work together to provide shared communications services in humanitarian emergencies.

2 remains challenging for most communities in Deir-ez-Zor governorate. Disrupted supply routes continue to limit the quantity of food available. Response Syria The delivered an Inter-Agency Let's Comm Digital training in Dubai during the third week of November. The training enhanced the digital radio technology skills of 10x staff from the World Food Programme (), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Department of Safety and Security () and the UN Children s Fund (UNICEF). These agencies are supporting operations in Syria and surrounding countries. A new Coordinator based in Damascus, Balamine Ouattara, has joined the operation. He will also be the focal point for the Whole of Syria response. As part of OCHA s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) exercise for 2018, the presented its planned activities and budget requirements for next year during the cluster defense meeting held on 13 November in Lebanon. The requires approx. US$800,000 to carry out its project in Syria and Surrounding Countries in In addition, the presented its plans and activities for the Whole of Syria project to local NGOs in Syria. The conducted a mission to Qamishly to deploy solar panels to power the Very High Frequency (VHF) repeater to ensure security telecommunications services remained uninterrupted. Regular maintenance was also conducted on the VHF radio services deployed at the COMCEN. The in collaboration with UNICEF upgraded the Private Branch Exchange (PBX) phone system in the United Nations (UN) hub in Qamishly to have a digital phone system and additional 30x extensions. Turkey In Gazientep, the continues to provide Internet and customer support services at the UN hub. The need for these services, as well as the ones provided in Antakya and Reyhanli, will be reviewed during Jordan In 2018, the will continue to provide and security telecommunications services in Za atari and Azraq refugee camps in close collaboration with UNHCR. Lebanon and the have started the migration from analogue to digital radio technology which will be completed by March Analogue radio services will not be operational as of August During the transition period, the will provide the required support to humanitarian organisations using security telecommunications services in Lebanon. During 2018, the will maintain the storage facility in Lebanon for to facilitate the importation of ICT equipment into Syria. Page 2 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ()

3 Planned Response Turkey The is exploring the possibility of conducting an inter-agency Ultra High Frequency(UHF) radio training in Turkey, either in Ankara or Reyhanli. Lebanon The will evaluate the feasibility of extending connectivity services to the affected population. Jordan The is awaiting permission from Jordan s military to deploy a satellite kit to address the critical connectivity needs of the humanitarian community in the north-eastern region of Jordan. This is the main priority of the in Jordan for Challenges The volatile security situation in Syria is hindering the response on the ground. Lack of access to operational areas and receiving the deployment authorisations from relevant authorities affect the timely deployment of services across Syria. Importing telecommunications equipment into Syria remains a challenge. Meetings The next Global Joint teleconference will take place on 28 February. Information Humanitarian ICT responders supporting the Syria operation across the region are encouraged to share their contact details with Syria.@wfp.org to facilitate coordination efforts. A dedicated information-sharing space has been created on the website Organisations involved in the ICT response are encouraged to share updates with the community to support the overall humanitarian response. Page 3 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ()

4 Shared ICT Services COUNTRY SITE, CITY PROVIDED BY SERVICES CUSTOMER Country Office, Damascus Coordination Hub SYRIA Homs Tartous Aleppo Qamishly Azraq camp UNHCR JORDAN Al Za atari camp UNHCR Country Office, Amman LEBANON Country Office, Beirut Logistics Hub Page 4 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ()

5 Antakya Gazientep ICT helpdesk TURKEY Kilis Reyhanli Sanliurfa Services Map: Services_A3L_ _0.pdf Page 5 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ()

6 Contacts Balamine Ouattara, Coordinator for Syria and WoS approach Phone: Shahan Ara Quadir, Coordinator for Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon Phone: Salma Farouque, Global Team, Syria focal point Phone: Erika Iglesias, Information Management Officer Phone: Acronyms COMCEN HRP ICT IT NGO OCHA PBX UN UNFPA UNHCR VHF WoS Communications Centre Emergency Telecommunications Cluster Humanitarian Response Plan Information and Communications Technology Information Technology Non-Governmental Organisation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Private Exchange Branch United Nations United Nations Department of Safety and Security UN Population Fund UN High Commissioner for Refugees Very High Frequency World Food Programme Whole of Syria All information related to operations can be found on the ICT Emergency website: For more information, or to be added or deleted from the mailing list, please contact: Page 6 of 6 Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ()

Syria & the Surrounding Countries

Syria & the Surrounding Countries Situation Report #26 Reporting period 01/07/2016 to 30/11/2016 The operates under the Whole of Syria (WoS) approach which comprises activities in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan